Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky tied the game in the top of the eighth, but couldn't hold off Murray State in the ninth and suffered a 6-5 loss in the Ohio Valley Conference series opener on Friday.
 
Trailing 5-4 late in the game, Corey Conklin and Will Johnson began the eighth inning with back-to-back walks for the Colonels (23-19, 10-9 OVC).  A sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position with one out.  Nick Howie followed with the third walk of the inning to load the bases.  Braydon Cook came on to pitch for the Racers and threw a wild pitch to allow the tying run to score.  However, he struck out the first two batters he faced to end the EKU threat.
 
After Eastern went down in order in the top of the ninth, Brock Anderson began the bottom of the ninth with a single through the right side.  He advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch.  With one out, Jordan Cozart singled to center to bring home the winning run for Murray State (17-21, 11-8 OVC).
 
The Colonels turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead in the top of the third.  A.J. Lewis drove in a run with a single to center.  Daniel Harris IV came through with a 2-out, 2-run single through the right side to cap the inning.  Murray State scored one in the bottom of the third and another in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.  Jake Slunder's sacrifice fly in the sixth put the home team in front 5-4.
 
Lewis finished 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI for Eastern Kentucky.  Howie was 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs.  Cozart had a 2-for-4 day with two RBIs for Murray State.
 
EKU totaled just five hits in the game, but drew eight walks.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.